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Uncomfortable…revealing…wordless

No assignment to handle today. I am enjoying this blogging challenge. Each day, except weekends an assignment comes. The purpose? Well….I believe the purpose is to get bloggers to interact with each other, and to help us develop our skills. The assignments require thought, and no thought…just do it! I always liked that ad that Nike put out years ago. I have been trying to “just do it!”

Since this is not an assignment, I get to say what I want, with no feedback, and that is OK. What I really want to discuss is what to do and say when someone says something or writes something that makes you uncomfortable.

A couple of the articles I have written have been gut-wrenching. I find myself pouring out my soul on this blog, and revealing things long hidden. Some of the people who read my blog know nothing of my history. They weren’t around when, what they are reading, happened. Because the words and emotions are so raw, they just don’t know what to say. What are you supposed to do when someone shares something so personal. Do you remark on the quality of the writing? Do you say, oh wow, I am sorry you had to go through that? Is it better to just say nothing?

The first thing you must recognize is that the person revealing their stories, would not have revealed those things unless it was time for the world to know. The hurt and the pain have been dealt with, and life has gone on. There is a reason why these things are being shared, at least it is in my case, and that reason is so others know that no matter what happens in their life, they too can have the hope of an end to the pain, and the hope of moving forward.

If I could make it through the traumas in my life, then you can get through the traumas in your life, whatever they might be.

Each person has a different and difficult walk through life. There are incredibly sad and devastating stories in our world that have happened to people. It is part of life. The Bible tells us that in this world there will be trouble. Boy is that an understatement if there ever was one. I look around and I see the horror, the disgrace, the sorrow, the pain, the loss, the emptiness.

I also see the hope! My hope came from Jesus. He is the rescuer. He is the one who will always be there if you call on him. He is the one who can turn your life around. To those who call out to him, the future is better than the past, and there is a reason. This is truly the potter’s wheel that we all sit upon. The master potter can make us into anything, but sometimes we have to go through the fire in order to become who we are supposed to be. It is not pleasant, but in the end it is better. If it is not better yet, then it is not yet the end.

If you are struggling with life….know that you can do this. You can get through this. You can come out better than you were.

There are so very many people who have lost loved ones. Some unexpectedly. It seems so totally unfair. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. It was too soon. Someone else caused this. It should not have been.

Why do those things happen? Why is it my lot to lose so much? Such a great love? Why? We all ask the same questions. We all go through the same stuff, only different. Our part in this is to “check” ourselves. The question we need to ask is, “am I building walls that keep people out?” “Am I becoming bitter?” “Am I holding grudges, or hatred or shame?” Whatever comes…we must try and get better.

Nothing in the past can be changed. It is what it is. It happened. We can only go from here. Will today be better than yesterday? YES…It will if we choose. But we must choose to let the past be the past and accept today as a new day. Each day God has given us a new sunrise. It is a new day…Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come.

The importance of today cannot be over-stated. You have today…I have today! Look for the good things that bring you peace, that make your heart warm inside. It may be as small as petting a dog, or watching a sunrise, or laughing at a joke. Happiness is only found in today, in the NOW. You can’t plan it, You can’t hide it away, and you can’t save it for tomorrow. Happiness only occurs in the “NOW!” Contentment may be held. Peace can be held. Joy can be held….but happiness cannot. Happiness is fleeting. You have it only for a brief moment here and there. Enjoy it….but whatever you do recognize it and remember it. Secure that moment of happiness by writing it down or sharing it with someone. You can hold the memory of the happiness, but you cannot hold happiness.

Today…RIGHT NOW…say the things you want to say(preferably words you will not regret)…Laugh at what you want to laugh at. Ask questions about what you want to know. Don’t worry about commenting on something you have learned about another. If they don’t want to discuss it, they will tell you. What you may learn is that they do want to talk about it, that they do want to tell you their story of hope. They may want to explain why they did what they did, OR what led them to where they are. Just be real.

People will never remember what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Work at making those memories for yourself and for those around you. It is actually called “LOVE!”

You have today…Live it with love, hope, anticipation, appreciation, happiness….Just breathe…go for it….LIVE Life!